Shortly after midnight the City of Toronto reached an agreement with CUPE Local 79 that will see the City's final offer go to the union membership for a ratification vote on Wednesday, March 28. The City has four collective agreements with Local 79 (Full-time, Part-time B, Long-Term Care Homes and Services and Recreation Workers units) representing 23,000 workers.

"This is great news for the City of Toronto, for the employees who didn't want to strike and the residents and taxpayers who did not want services disrupted," said Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday. "The offer that Local 79 members will be voting on is fair, reasonable and affordable. It is very similar to the Local 416 agreement ratified last month and we are confident that Local 79 members will ratify the deal."

Highlights of the offer include a four-year term with job security, wages and benefits that are almost identical to the 416 agreement that was ratified unanimously by City Council in February. Information on the City's final offer is posted on the City's website at www.toronto.ca. Full details will be released once the agreements are ratified by the Local 79 membership and subsequently approved by City Council.

Deputy Mayor Holyday thanked the City's bargaining team for its hard work and long hours in negotiating an agreement that will help the City of Toronto move forward, and also acknowledged the Local 79 bargaining team for its willingness to negotiate at the bargaining table rather than taking job action that would have deprived residents of important City services.

City services and programs continue as usual.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.7 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.